U.S. patent application number 11/866067 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for dust separation device.
This patent application is currently assigned to STONERIDGE, INC.. Invention is credited to Jim Rockwell, Robert J. Steinman.
Application Number | 20080156301 11/866067 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39582165 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080156301 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rockwell; Jim ; et
al. |
July 3, 2008 |
Dust Separation Device
Abstract
A dust separation device for separating contaminants from a
fluid. The device may include at least one spiral fin disposed in
an inlet tube for directing at least a portion of the contaminants
in a spiral flow, and a deflector for deflecting at least a portion
of the contaminants into a into a collection chamber. A fuel system
for an internal combustion engine and a method of separating
contaminants from a fluid are also provided.
Inventors: |
Rockwell; Jim; (Bellville,
OH) ; Steinman; Robert J.; (Lexington, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GROSSMAN, TUCKER, PERREAULT & PFLEGER, PLLC
55 SOUTH COMMERICAL STREET
MANCHESTER
NH
03101
US
|
Assignee: |
STONERIDGE, INC.
Warren
OH
|
Family ID: |
39582165 |
Appl. No.: |
11/866067 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60827832 |
Oct 2, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
123/518 ;
55/385.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M 25/0854 20130101;
B04C 2009/002 20130101; B04C 3/06 20130101; F02M 35/024 20130101;
B01D 45/16 20130101; F02M 35/0203 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/518 ;
55/385.3 |
International
Class: |
F02M 33/02 20060101
F02M033/02; B01D 50/00 20060101 B01D050/00 |
Claims
1. A dust separation device for separating contaminants from a
fluid, said device comprising: an inlet tube for receiving said
fluid and said contaminants; at least one spiral fin disposed in
the inlet tube for directing at least a portion of the contaminants
in a spiral flow toward an interior wall of the inlet tube when
said fluid is drawn through the inlet tube; and a deflector
adjacent an end of said inlet tube for deflecting at least a
portion of said contaminants in said spiral flow in a direction
away from an axis of the inlet tube and into a collection
chamber.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said deflector is
provided at an end of an outlet tube, said outlet tube being
configured for directing said fluid outwardly from the device.
3. A device according to claim 1, said device further comprising an
outlet tube for directing said fluid outwardly from said device,
and a secondary filter element disposed between said deflector and
said outlet tube.
4. A fuel system for an internal combustion engine, said fuel
system comprising: a fuel tank a vapor management system coupled to
said fuel tank, said vapor management system comprising: a fuel
vapor storage canister for receiving fuel vapor from said fuel
tank, and a dust separation device coupled said fuel vapor storage
canister, said dust separation device being configured for
providing filtered air to said fuel vapor storage canister for
purging said fuel vapor from said fuel vapor storage canister, said
dust separation device comprising: an inlet tube for receiving
incoming air comprising contaminants; at least one spiral fin
disposed in the inlet tube for directing at least a portion of the
contaminants in a spiral flow toward an interior wall of the inlet
tube when said incoming air is drawn through the inlet tube; and a
deflector adjacent an end of said inlet tube for deflecting at
least a portion of said contaminants in said spiral flow in a
direction away from an axis of the inlet tube and into a collection
chamber.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said deflector is
provided at an end of an outlet tube, said outlet tube being
configured for directing said filtered air to said fuel vapor
storage cannister.
6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said dust separation
device further comprises an outlet tube for directing said filtered
outwardly from said device, and a secondary filter element disposed
between said deflector and said outlet tube.
7. A method of separating contaminants from a fluid, said method
comprising: directing said fluid and contaminants against one or
more spiral fins to force at least a portion of the contaminants in
a spiral flow pattern; and directing at least a portion of said
contaminants in said spiral flow pattern against a deflector
whereby at least a portion of said contaminants in said spiral flow
are deflected in a direction away from an axis of flow and into a
collection chamber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/827,832, filed Oct. 2,
2006, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a dust separation device
for removing contaminants from an air flow.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A vapor management system of an internal combustion engine
may ingest large volumes of dust, especially into canister vent
valve and carbon canister portions of the system. This potentially
produces an unacceptable flow path restriction and reduces
performance. In the presence of severe conditions, some emission
requirements may become difficult to meet and in-service failures
may result.
[0004] A dust separating filtration device may be used in the vapor
management system to block contaminants that may accompany the
intake of fresh air. Filters used in the past include foam filters,
but these may increase flow resistance after a long service period.
Some filters used in the past have narrow flow paths, which may
cause high flow resistance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Features and advantages of solenoids consistent with the
present disclosure will be apparent from the following description
of embodiments consistent therewith, wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fuel system for a
gasoline internal combustion engine to which a device consistent
with the present disclosure may be applied;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of one exemplary embodiment of a
dust separation device consistent with the present disclosure;
and
[0008] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another exemplary embodiment
of a dust separation device consistent with the present
disclosure.
DESCRIPTION
[0009] For ease of explanation, dust separation devices will be
described herein in connection with an engine vapor management
system. A dust separation device consistent with the present
disclosure may, however, be useful in other applications. It is to
be understood, therefore, that illustrated exemplary embodiments
described herein are provided only by way of illustration, and are
not intended to be limiting.
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a fuel system of an
internal combustion engine. The illustrated exemplary fuel system
includes a fuel tank 14 containing fuel and fuel delivery devices,
which include a fuel pump 16, a brushless motor 18, motor drive
electronics 20, a fuel sender 22, a filter 24, an indicator,
hydraulic valves, a delivery module cup, pipes and other
supplemental devices. Fuel at high-pressure may be sent to a fuel
rail 26, located on an engine, through an inline fuel filter 28.
Fuel injectors 30 may inject fuel into the air charge entering the
engine through an intake manifold (not shown). The fuel vapor,
however, may be sent through a fuel tank pressure sensor 32 to a
vapor management system.
[0011] The vapor management system may include a dust separation
device 10 (also called a dust box), which may be connected by fluid
passages to a fuel vapor storage canister 12. In one mode of
operation, when the fuel tank 14 is being filled, fuel vapor may be
transported into the vapor storage canister 12, and clean air,
exiting the canister, enters the device 10 and escapes into the
atmosphere. In another operation mode, the system may allow fresh
air to purge the fuel vapor stored in the vapor storage canister.
During this process, some contaminants may enter the vapor
management system. The dust separation device 10 may block the
contaminants and allow filtered air into the system.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a dust
separation device 10 consistent with the present disclosure. The
illustrated exemplary embodiment includes an inlet tube 52
including one or more spiral fins 54 in a spiral orientation
relative to the axis of the tube 52, an outlet tube 56 including a
dust deflector 58, and a collection cavity 60. The spiral fins 54
inside the inlet tube 52 are configured to direct incoming dust
laden air in a spiral flow pattern. The spiral pattern velocity
causes contaminants in the air stream to move toward the outer edge
of the flow area, against the interior wall of the inlet tube 52,
due to centrifugal force. As the air progresses down the inlet tube
52 past the fins 54 the contaminants near the interior wall strike
the dust deflector 58, which deflects the particles into the
collection cavity 60. The air at the center of the tube 52 has a
reduced percentage of contaminants compared to the air adjacent the
interior wall of the tube 52 and may be the filtered air passed
through the outlet tube 56 for the application. The vacuum source
creating differential pressure for the flow in the direction
indicated by arrow 62 may be positioned at the center of the spiral
flow pattern.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary embodiment 10a of a
dust separation device consistent with the present disclosure. The
illustrated exemplary embodiment 10a includes an inlet tube 52
including one or more spiral fins 54 in a spiral orientation
relative to the axis of the tube 52, an outlet tube 56a, a dust
deflector 58a, a collection cavity 60a, and a secondary filter
element 70 disposed in a chamber 72. The spiral fins 54 inside the
inlet tube 52 are configured to direct incoming dust laden air in a
spiral flow pattern. The spiral pattern velocity causes
contaminants in the air stream to move toward the outer edge of the
flow area, against the interior wall of the inlet tube 52, due to
centrifugal force. As the air progresses down the inlet tube 52
past the fins 54 the contaminants near the interior wall strike the
dust deflector 58a, which deflects the particles into the
collection cavity 60a. The air at the center of the tube 52 has a
reduced percentage of contaminants compared to the air adjacent the
interior wall of the tube 52 and may be drawn through the secondary
filter element 70. The secondary filter element may be a
conventional filter, and may filter contaminants that are not
centrifugally filtered into the collection chamber 60a. Air passing
through the secondary filter element 70 may be the filtered air
passed through the outlet tube 56a for the application. The vacuum
source creating differential pressure for the flow in the direction
indicated by arrow 62 may be positioned at the center of the spiral
flow pattern.
[0014] Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure
there is provided a dust separation device for separating
contaminants from fluid. The device may include an inlet tube for
receiving the fluid and the contaminants; at least one spiral fin
disposed in the inlet tube for directing at least a portion of the
contaminants in a spiral flow toward an interior wall of the inlet
tube when the fluid is drawn through the inlet tube; and a
deflector adjacent an end of the inlet tube for deflecting at least
a portion of the contaminants in the spiral flow in a direction
away from an axis of the inlet tube and into a collection chamber.
Advantageously, a device consistent with the present disclosure may
provide efficient filtration with relatively low flow resistance
for a vapor management system of an internal combustion engine.
[0015] According to another aspect of the present disclosure there
is provided a fuel system for an internal combustion engine. The
fuel system may include: a fuel tank and a vapor management system
coupled to the fuel tank. The vapor management system may include a
fuel vapor storage canister for receiving fuel vapor from the fuel
tank, and a dust separation device coupled the fuel vapor storage
canister, the dust separation device being configured for providing
filtered air to the fuel vapor storage canister for purging the
fuel vapor from the fuel vapor storage canister. The dust
separation device may include an inlet tube for receiving incoming
air including contaminants; at least one spiral fin disposed in the
inlet tube for directing at least a portion of the contaminants in
a spiral flow toward an interior wall of the inlet tube when the
incoming air is drawn through the inlet tube; and a deflector
adjacent an end of the inlet tube for deflecting at least a portion
of the contaminants in the spiral flow in a direction away from an
axis of the inlet tube and into a collection chamber.
[0016] According to yet another aspect of the disclosure there is
provided a method of separating contaminants from a fluid including
directing the fluid and contaminants against one or more spiral
fins to force at least a portion of the contaminants in a spiral
flow pattern; and directing at least a portion of the contaminants
in the spiral flow pattern against a deflector whereby at least a
portion of the contaminants in the spiral flow are deflected in a
direction away from an axis of flow and into a collection
chamber.
[0017] The features and aspects described with reference to
particular embodiments disclosed herein may be susceptible to
combination and/or application in various other embodiments
described herein. Such combinations and/or applications of such
described features and aspects to such other embodiments are
contemplated herein. Additionally, the embodiments disclosed herein
are susceptible to numerous variations and modifications without
materially departing from the spirit of the disclosed subject
matter. Accordingly, the invention claimed herein should not be
considered to be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed
herein.
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